Need some help on some designs

Hey everyone.

I'm not sure about anyone else, but lately I have been getting a lot of requests for designs I have no clue how to achieve. Things like buzz and woody and superman and just designs that to me just seem like faces. I have to politely decline saying that you already have a face so I can't paint a face on your face. has anyone else had this problem?

What has everyone else done in this case? I would love to know and if you could post a pic or two that would be awesome.

Thanks guys your awesome. Can't wait to be half as good as you all.

I tell them I don't have the right paint for that design and then I just start naming some of the "cool" designs that I think might steer them off topic...works every time.

I hate being asked for characters. Its my worst nightmare. I get so nervous and hold my breath when I hear the mom say " im sure she can make anything you ask for, she's an artist" This last weekend I was asked for a Lightening McQueen. It was horrible. lol Sometimes I just suggest something similar and try to make that sound real cool so they will change there minds and that usually gives the parent a hint that I dont want to do that particular design. I hate to say no. Its tough sometimes.

If I don't feel comfortable doing it, I just tell them that it wouldn't look very good if I did it, and ask them to choose something from the board. Someone asked me for Lightning McQueen last weekend too, and I suggested something else instead. If they can show me a picture sometimes I'll give it a try, but otherwise it's just too much time to paint character designs.

hey!...I had to ...google search..Lighting McQueen... Oh well ...now i know what/who it is...hum!....

I have the pictures from Snazaroo 3 minute cheek art for easy cheek art designs and when I got request for Lightning McQueen I said I didn't have that design. The kids said it was on my board. There's a red race car in there that apparently the little kids think is Lightning McQueen. At least one little kid at every party now asks for it. I only paint what's on my board. It takes too much time trying to paint something I don't know how to paint. If it was PPF I guess it wouldn't matter but i rarely do those.

Are they asking for full face or just cheek? If it's cheek check around the board or google and you'll find fairly simple designs for these most requested cartoons. It also depends on the kid if their real squirmy you won't be able to do the line work on some of the harder ones. I only refuse sponge bob because 1 he can't be done well fast and 2 I think he insults kids intelligence. Lets leave the non- redeeming cartoons for the adults like the simpsons and south park.

I actually have a fast sponge bob, and get requests for it all the time. Not my favorite face or cartoon, but hey... They are paying me! lol

They'll usually hem and haw if I ask for a picture and choose something else. I've painted off of t-shirts 4 times. Only once has someone produced a picture from an Iphone...but I regret doing it because it was a jungle theme and he wanted a KISS face so he looked out of place.

I find it so funny when people will say "can you do a Power Ranger?" and you say 'not without a picture' and they are soooo down-hearted about it. Like I'm an encyclopedia of every Power Ranger design from the last, let's see, 15 years they've been on the air????

I prepped for days for the jungle themed parties I had (two in a row) and of course the birthday girl sits down and asks for a koala! What are the odds??? I made a good (not great) koala but it's so silly...that is one of the few animals I didn't know.

Sometimes I'll say something like "I can do a red race car" or "I can do a mermaid" and they'll be happy with that.

It's always something. I'm thinking of charging a little extra for special requests at PPF because of the time involved. I don't think it's fair to the people waiting to take so much extra time on a special request for the price of a quick design. IMHO.

D.

I put $3 extra for custom work on my book... usually discourages this. Not always. I don't mind doing some custom work, but ppl expect you to drop everything, and everyone else in line to look something up on a phone... ugh. I have done it once and I won't do it again. If I know how to paint it and its not on my board/book, I will will paint it. If I don't know, then they will have to look it up themselves, pay the extra and deal, or find something in the book.

I have my phone and I do a search for images if I don't know it. Lightning McQueen is not hard... a red car, put eyes on the windshield and a 95 on the top or side.

For requests of a character that is just a person's face, you have to get creative... for Buzz Lightyear (my daughter's halloween costume last year) I do the eyebrows and the little swirl on the chin... Superman is at best cheek art of the chest symbol and maybe a little black curl in the middle of their forehead.... I get a lot of requests for Mario and Luigi lately, so I paint the hat on their forehead and give them a big moustache.... princesses get a crown on their forehead. I'll see if I can find a pic of Buzz...

If they really want the design they will look it up on their phone. I don't have a iphone or droid so I can't. My Daughter does have a droid and it helped last month a teen ask for a bird. Well I can do ducks,swans,eagles,geese,doves,chickens,Phoenixes, peacocks,crows,hummingbirds,turkeys,flamingos,and macaws. What did she ask for a lark. Just when you think you got it down pat someone will through you a curve.

I just tell them, "If you have a picture, I can do it!"

Yeah - I've done Buzz before but prefer not to again.... at least you can paint his purple head hoodything and the eyebrows.

Anytime they ask for Dora ( ! ) or Superman I ask them what they would like me to paint? - "What exactly would you like me to paint on your face that would make you look like another little girl - or like super man? Superman doesn't wear a mask so would you just like the "S" on your cheek?"
Something like that - I turn it around on them - if you can tell me what to paint I will happily paint it.

I have actually seen good step by step for Lightening Mcqueen..... I THINK it was Clayton that posted them - but I could be very wrong about that.... anyway I will paint Lightning but prefer to have a picture.
I will not paint Ben 10 or any of the aliens - tried that - never again.

Most kids can be talked around into something you do more confidently....

I've even been known to point at the line and say - it will take me soooooo loooong to paint that - how about we pick something a bit easier so we don't have all these people waiting ALL DAY!"...... they always give in and event the parent ususaly chips in to help the kid change his mind.

Amy, take a look at this thread, it includes the sbs for Lightning McQueen: http://www.facepaintforum.com/t4859-why-do-boys-always-want-a-car

Oh, and there are more threads right here: http://www.facepaintforum.com/search?search_keywords=cars